Thursday
20th
July 2006, Pre-Season Friendly,
Rugby Park, Kick-Off 7:45pm
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Kilmarnock |
2 - 1 |
Albion |
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Di Giacomo 48 |
2,115 |
Albrechtsen 88 |
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Nish 67 |
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Kilmarnock:
Graeme Smith, Gordon Greer
(Grant Murray 84), David Lilley,
Frazer Wright, Garry Hay,
Danny Invincibile (Peter Leven 78),
Allan Johnston,
James Fowler (Rhian Dodds 84),
Steven Naismith (Gary Locke 74),
Paul Di Giacomo (Andrew Barrowman 72),
Gary
Wales (Colin Nish 62) (Stephen Murray
82). Sub not used:
Peter Logan
(gk)
Albion:
Tomasz Kuszczak,
Steve Watson (Martin Albrechtsen 79), Curtis Davies,
Chris Perry, Paul Robinson,
Zoltan Gera, Ronnie Wallwork,
Nigel Quashie,
Jonathan Greening, John Hartson,
Nathan Ellington. Subs not used:
Pascal Zuberbuhler (gk),
Luke Daniels (gk), Richard
Chaplow, Jeff Forsyth, Rob
Davies, Jared Hodgkiss,
Ibrahim Sissoko, Junichi Inamoto
Referee: Charlie Richmond (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Chris Young (Scotland),
Jamie Downie (Scotland)
Half-Time:
Kilmarnock 0-0 Albion
Albion were given a taste of
what to expect in next season's Championship as they slumped to defeat at
Kilmarnock. The Baggies' opening game on their three-match tour of Scotland
was a competitive affair with the hosts running out deserved winners.
Martin Albrechtsen's late consolation halved the deficit for
Bryan Robson's team after goals from Paul Di Giacomo and Colin Nish had left
Killie firmly in charge. However, the scoreline was irrelevant as
Albion took another step
towards their opening day clash with
Hull in just over two weeks.
The performance of Zoltan Gera was a huge positive for Robson
as the Hungary
international looked at full fitness for the first time in almost 12 months.
Robson also declared himself pleased with the performance of John Hartson,
although his partnership with Nathan Ellington still needs time to gel.
More of a concern for Robson is the fact his defence looked
extremely vulnerable and conceded soft goals, which also blighted their
campaign last season.
Kilmarnock's movement in midfield also caused
Albion untold problems with
Steven Naismith in particular catching the eye. The diminutive winger probed
intelligently all evening and will have been duly noted by Robson for future
reference.
Make no bones about it, this was
Albion's likely starting XI
for the fixture with Hull unless reinforcements arrive. So while results are
unimportant the manner of performance is which is why Robson lamented his
side's defending. From the moment Garry Hay's free-kick smacked off the
crossbar after just nine minutes, the Baggies looked shaky at the back.
Naismith spurned two further opportunities before Gera and Steve Watson
threatened for Albion.
Paul Di Giacomo finally broke the deadlock three minutes after
the interval following more good work from Naismith after Ronnie Wallwork
failed to clear his lines.
Nish doubled the advantage just after the hour mark with a smart
finish after waltzing through two tackles inside
Albion's area.
Albrechtsen halved the deficit two minutes from time when he
latched on to an excellent Wallwork through-ball and drove past Graeme Smith
from close range. However,
Kilmarnock deserved to win and Robson will want to see an improvement
during Albion's next
two fixtures on this tour of Scotland.
icBirmingham
Bryan Robson:
"Defensively, the back four and midfield four have got to do
a lot better. We've got to get down to basics in training and in the next
couple of games to make sure we improve.
"I think the hard training and heat had a bit to do with the performance as
we haven't really rested the lads. We're trying to build their fitness
levels up and sometimes they will feel a bit leggy and sluggish. But by the
last game on this trip, I expect us to be that bit sharper. During the two
weeks after the Motherwell game, we will build up to making them feel
fresher.
"Pre-season results are irrelevant but I would have liked the
lads to have gone unbeaten on this trip. Not conceding goals is a good habit
to get into. With the first one, there were a couple of situations when we
could have cleared it and the second goal was poor. We've allowed the lad to
turn inside dead easy and open the goal up. That is basic defending and we
need to tighten up on that. If we had defended better, we probably would
have got a better result.
"Games against Scottish teams are always tough. They like to
beat English teams and they go about it the right way. They work really hard
at their game and compete.
"For a lot of our lads, this was only their second game.
Killie's movement and passing was good so it was a good test.
Jim
Jeffries:
"In the dressing room Colin said he could not remember his
goal so I told him it was from 40 yards! But it was a really good effort
from him.
"It was also an excellent overall performance. The whole team
worked hard and I'm pleased with their fitness levels - they are looking
really good."
The game is Albion's first 'north of the border' since
Dumbarton in August 1988.
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